West A's two-back attack too much for Moon

Andrew Chiappazzi @BCT_AChiappazzi

Sunday

Sep 20, 2009 at 12:01 AMSep 20, 2009 at 12:17 AM

MOON TWP. — Football trends start at the lowest level and percolate slowly — if at all — into the professional ranks. The option offense, spread offense and many others all originated at the high school level.

It comes as little surprise, then, that professional teams are utilizing multiple running backs. High school teams have done it for years, and while single threats like Hopewell’s Rushel Shell remain, dynamic duos like Mike Caputo and Mike Cherokee at West Allegheny are piling up the yards as well.

One week after each rushed for more than 100 yards, Caputo and Cherokee combined for 286 yards and three touchdowns as the Indians blew past Moon Area, 46-6, Friday night in the opening game of the Parkway Conference schedule.

“It feels great, knowing that the weight’s not on one person and we can spread it around,” Cherokee said. “Even our quarterback, Jared Buck, can run a bit.”

Buck did not need to Friday night. After a swap of interceptions to start the game, Caputo took his second carry 71 yards for a touchdown. He would pile up 192 yards in the first half, finishing with 225 yards on just 18 carries.

“We’re meshing,” Caputo said. “Our whole team is just getting together. It’s not just me and Cherokee; it starts on the line.”

That line includes senior Tim Johnson manning the right tackle spot. As the game wore on and Caputo gave way to Cherokee and other running backs, the path in front of Johnson grew wider and wider.

“Tim’s a great lineman, as is Nate Bell, as is every lineman we have,” Caputo said. “I mean, we ran to the left, we ran to the right side. Everybody did their job.”

“They make us work harder,” Johnson replied. “We know what they can do. They have a lot of skill back there with a lot of speed, so we have to make sure that we block for them to give them a chance to do what they do.”

West Allegheny head coach Bob Palko cautioned that it was early to begin thinking about the playoffs. He believes the team still has holes in its passing game and is still sorting itself out.

“When we’ve had good football teams, we usually have had a couple of guys who can carry the load,” Palko said. “We’re finding our personality, and it’s neat to see the relationship that those two have.”